LAHORE: Renowned ghazal singer Munni Begum brought a flood of forgotten memories for the music genre fanciers of the 1970s and 1980s as she spellbound the hall jam-packed with audience at the Alhamra Art Centre on Friday night with some fine singing.

The ghazal night titled ‘Ik Bar Muskara Do’ was organised by the Lahore Arts Council. Besides the hall, seating arrangement was made for hundreds of people on the lawns where big screens were installed to watch Begum’s performance.

It was a huge event at the art centre though Pakistan Zimbabwe match was also taking place in Lahore but Munni’s admirers came in such large numbers that seats fell short despite extra arrangement of seats on the lawns.

Before the performance, Lahore Arts Council Executive Director retired Captain Atta Muhammad Khan welcomed the audience and threw light on the history of ghazal. He thanked Munni Begum that she had come all the way long from the USA to perform in Lahore.

Begum sang in Lahore after a gap of 15 years.

The Alhamra Art Centre had big screens, vast seating arrangements and illuminations. The stage was adorned with flowers. Munni clad in a golden sari with his signature smile when appeared on the stage the audience in the hall gave her a standing ovation. She sang many of her famous ghazals while playing on the harmonium such as IK Bar Muskara Do, Lazat-i-Gham, Mareez-i-Mahabbatand Thumaray Sheher Ka Mausam Bara Suhana Lagay. The night was going on till the filing of this report.

Earlier talking to Dawn, Munni Begum said Lahore had totally changed; it had big roads and shopping plazas. She specially praised the roads structure in Punjab. She was all praise for Motorway as she said that it was something fantastic she experienced while coming from Islamabad.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2015

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